The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-03
Stanley Browns Romance,

The announcement of the engagement
Of Miss Mollie Garfield to j. Stanley
Brown makes public romance which has
for some time been known or suspected
to the friends of both. If the sharp
eyes of watchful women are trustworthy
it is the elimination of long attach
mcnt on the part of Mr.. Brown.
When Stanley Brown and General
Garfield were first brought together
Brown was young stenographer, with
whose expertncss General Garfield was
delighted. He was very quiet, rather
too modest young fellow of nine
teen. General Garfield thought he had
found treasure in the young man, for
his experience with some committee
clerks had been somewhat unpleasant.
He found Brown punctual, quick, quiet,
steady, and possessed of one qualification
that especially pleased Garfield. He
minded his own business. Garfield ap-
pointed him clerk of his committee, and
in that capacity Brown was thrown very
much with the Garfield family. They
were then living in Gardeld's much
mortgaged house, where General Gar
After his election to the Presidency
Garfield was urged to appoint one of
several young men as his private secre-
tary. One of these was disposed to be a
politician on his own hook; another was
a bright but extremely voluble young
man, and still another rather prided him
self, somewhat to Garfeld's amusement,
Oh his resemblance to the General.
Garfield, however, said that he wanted
IS his private secretary in the White
House no politician who knew more than
he did, and no amateur statesman. He
wanted simply a faithful young man
who would attend to the duties of the
Executive office, who had close mouth
and knew how to mind his own business,
and he had just such person in mind
Nobody:knew who it was, and when after
his inauguration as President it proved to
be young Stanley Brown, there was good
deal Of surprise among the politicians.
Brown was then only twenty-one years
old. He was wholly Ignorant Of politics,
and knew very little of politicians, en-
cept what he had learned as Garfield
secretary AS his taste did not run
to politics he paid little heed to political
matters, and this was exactly what Gar
field wanted in a Presidents private Sec
retary. Brown was then tall, slender
young man. His hair was very light and
curly, his eyes blue, his complexion rosy,
and there was just struggling hint of a
mustache growing. He seemed so youth
full, immature and unaccustomed to the
ways of the world, and especially such
an innocent boy to put in front of subtle
politicians who daily frequent the Sccre-
tsry's office in the White House, that
some of Garfield's friends feared he had
made mistake. To these Garfield al
ways replied that he knew the boy, and
that if he was immature he was discreet.
Garfield treated Brown more like rela-
tive than like an employee, and with the
rest of the family he was looked upon as
one of them.
When General Garfield went into the
White House Mo!lic was a schoolgirl of
fourteen. She was charming miss then.
She gave promise, not of great beauty, but
of utmo-t attractivcness of face and form,
and in disposition was called by all her
nSSOcldCCS one Ol CllG S"ecCCSG vi SlTIS
Her fathers place as President never af-
fccted her simplicity OF manner or her
cordiality with the humblest of her mates.
She used to 60 tripping up Fifteenth
street to school with Il lot of schoolmateS,
dressed more plainly than almost any one
of them. She was merry girl, possessed
of some of her fathers playfulness and
love of fun, and even at that time thought
Stanley Brown the most manly young
fellow whom she knew At least so she
told her mates. 1t was simply the ad-
miration and liking of schoolgirl, toe
young to have ever had thought of Sc.
rious affection for anyone beyond the
tamily circle.
Miss Mollie's most attractive features
were remarkably expressive and beauti.
full ewes and most charming smile.
Those who were accustomed to sec her in
oil moods said there were times when she
looked very like her father, and the re-
semblancc to Grandmother Garfield WIS
regarded by old family friends as very
great.
Even at that schoolgirl period Brown
fond great pleasure in Miss Mollic's com
pany, and though he was usually the
most diffident of men in women's society
he was wholly at ease with Miss Moll!e
He wa: fond of her. and the wise matrons
of " ashington, who see everything with